iCARE: An R package to build, validate and apply absolute risk models.

This report describes an R package, called the Individualized Coherent Absolute Risk Estimator (iCARE) tool, that allows researchers to build and evaluate models for absolute risk and apply them to estimate an individual's risk of developing disease during a specified time interval based on a set of user defined input parameters. An attractive feature of the software is that it gives users flexibility to update models rapidly based on new knowledge on risk factors and tailor models to different populations by specifying three input arguments: a model for relative risk, an age-specific disease incidence rate and the distribution of risk factors for the population of interest. The tool can handle missing information on risk factors for individuals for whom risks are to be predicted using a coherent approach where all estimates are derived from a single model after appropriate model averaging.

Comparative Validation of Breast Cancer Risk Prediction Models and Projections for Future Risk Stratification.

Background: External validation of risk models is critical for risk-stratified breast cancer prevention. We used the Individualized Coherent Absolute Risk Estimation (iCARE) as a flexible tool for risk model development and comparative model validation and to make projections for population risk stratification.

Methods: Performance of two recently developed models, one based on the Breast and Prostate Cancer Cohort Consortium analysis (iCARE-BPC3) and another based on a literature review (iCARE-Lit), were compared with two established models (Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool and International Breast Cancer Intervention Study Model) based on classical risk factors in a UK-based cohort of 64 874 white non-Hispanic women (863 patients) age 35-74 years.

Reciprocal Inhibition of Adiponectin and Innate Lung Immune Responses to Chitin and .

Chitin is a structural biopolymer found in numerous organisms, including pathogenic fungi, and recognized as an immune-stimulating pathogen associated molecular pattern by pattern recognition molecules of the host immune system. However, programming and regulation of lung innate immunity to chitin inhalation in the context of inhalation of fungal pathogens such as is complex and our understanding incomplete. Here we report that the systemic metabolism-regulating cytokine adiponectin is decreased in the lungs and serum of mice after chitin inhalation, with a concomitant decrease in surface expression of the adiponectin receptor AdipoR1 on lung leukocytes.

Correction: BOADICEA: a comprehensive breast cancer risk prediction model incorporating genetic and nongenetic risk factors.

This has now been corrected in both the PDF and HTML versions of the Article. The authors regret this error.

BOADICEA: a comprehensive breast cancer risk prediction model incorporating genetic and nongenetic risk factors.

Purpose: Breast cancer (BC) risk prediction allows systematic identification of individuals at highest and lowest risk. We extend the Breast and Ovarian Analysis of Disease Incidence and Carrier Estimation Algorithm (BOADICEA) risk model to incorporate the effects of polygenic risk scores (PRS) and other risk factors (RFs).

Methods: BOADICEA incorporates the effects of truncating variants in BRCA1, BRCA2, PALB2, CHEK2, and ATM; a PRS based on 313 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) explaining 20% of BC polygenic variance; a residual polygenic component accounting for other genetic/familial effects; known lifestyle/hormonal/reproductive RFs; and mammographic density, while allowing for missing information.

Joint associations of a polygenic risk score and environmental risk factors for breast cancer in the Breast Cancer Association Consortium.

Background: Polygenic risk scores (PRS) for breast cancer can be used to stratify the population into groups at substantially different levels of risk. Combining PRS and environmental risk factors will improve risk prediction; however, integrating PRS into risk prediction models requires evaluation of their joint association with known environmental risk factors.

Methods: Analyses were based on data from 20 studies; datasets analysed ranged from 3453 to 23 104 invasive breast cancer cases and similar numbers of controls, depending on the analysed environmental risk factor.

A Prospective, Observational Trial Assessing the Efficacy of Abdominal Compression in Reducing Laparoscopic-Induced Shoulder Pain.

Introduction: Postoperative shoulder pain is a condition associated with laparoscopic surgery and presumably attributed to residual carbon dioxide (CO) in the abdomen. The intent of the current prospective, observational study was to assess the efficacy of abdominal compression in mitigating this painful complication.

Methods: We recruited 30 patients who were treated with laparoscopic surgery for the management of gynecologic disease.

Smoking status, usual adult occupation, and risk of recurrent urothelial bladder carcinoma: data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Project.

Purpose: Tobacco smoking and occupational exposures are the leading risk factors for developing urothelial bladder carcinoma (UBC), yet little is known about the contribution of these two factors to risk of UBC recurrence. We evaluated whether smoking status and usual adult occupation are associated with time to UBC recurrence for 406 patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer submitted to The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) project.

Methods: Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard methods were used to assess the association between smoking status, employment in a high-risk occupation for bladder cancer, occupational diesel exhaust exposure, and 2010 Standard Occupational Classification group and time to UBC recurrence.

Consolidation hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy and maintenance chemotherapy following laparoscopic cytoreductive surgery in the treatment of ovarian carcinoma.

Purpose: Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is an intriguing method of delivery wherein the cytotoxic agent is continuously heated and circulated throughout the peritoneum in an attempt to improve efficacy. Despite the potential of HIPEC in the treatment of ovarian cancer, there are limited safety, feasibility and survival data involving this procedure, particularly in conjunction with maintenance chemotherapy.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively evaluated ovarian cancer patients who underwent laparoscopic debulking surgery, attained a complete response to their primary chemotherapy and subsequently received consolidation HIPEC with carboplatin area under the curve of 10 (AUC of 10) and a planned 12 cycles of paclitaxel (135 mg/m(2)) maintenance chemotherapy.

The feasibility of administering varying high-dose consolidation hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy with carboplatin in the treatment of ovarian carcinoma.

Objectives: Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is an intriguing method of delivery wherein the cytotoxic agent is continuously heated and circulated throughout the peritoneum in an attempt to bolster drug efficacy. Despite HIPEC's potential, ascertaining the optimal dose without compromising patient tolerability remains indeterminate.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 52 advanced stage ovarian cancer patients who were treated with consolidation HIPEC with carboplatin at varying doses (e.